JavaScript Coding Test Course, Finding the Minimum Value 1

Hello! Today, we will explore one of the coding test problems that can be implemented with JavaScript, which is ‘Finding the Minimum Value’. In this article, we will cover the problem description, solution process, and optimization methods. To aid in understanding basic algorithms, we will use many examples and codes. Let’s get started!

Problem Description

Write a function that finds and returns the minimum value from a given integer array. The length of the array will be between 1 and 100, with each element being an integer between -1,000 and 1,000.

Input

    [5, 3, 8, 1, 6]
    

Output

    1
    

Conditions

• The array is not empty.
• The length of the array is between 1 and 100.
• The minimum value to be output will be returned only once.

Solution Process

This problem is a simple task of finding the minimum value in the given array. There are several methods to solve this, but the most basic way is to use a loop to traverse the array and find the minimum value.

Step 1: Set Up the Array

First, let’s set up the array. For example, it can be set up as const numbers = [5, 3, 8, 1, 6];.

Step 2: Initialize the Minimum Value

To find the minimum value, we can initialize it with the first element. That is, we set it as let min = numbers[0];.

Step 3: Find the Minimum Value using a Loop

Starting from the second element of the array, we traverse all elements and compare if there is any element smaller than the current minimum value. If the current element is smaller, we update the minimum value.

Step 4: Return the Minimum Value

After traversing all elements, we return the minimum value we found. Let’s implement this process in actual code.

Code Implementation

    function findMinimum(numbers) {
        let min = numbers[0]; // Initialize with the first element
        
        for (let i = 1; i < numbers.length; i++) { // Start from the second element
            if (numbers[i] < min) {
                min = numbers[i]; // Update if the current element is smaller than the minimum
            }
        }
        
        return min; // Return the found minimum value
    }

    const numbers = [5, 3, 8, 1, 6];
    console.log(findMinimum(numbers)); // 1
    

Optimization Method

The above method is very intuitive and simple, but there are also ways to optimize it. For example, if we use the Math.min() function in JavaScript, we can find the minimum value more concisely. It can be used as follows.

    const numbers = [5, 3, 8, 1, 6];
    const min = Math.min(...numbers); // Use the spread operator to pass the array as arguments
    console.log(min); // 1
    

Conclusion

Today, we explored in detail how to find the minimum value in an integer array using JavaScript. In addition to the basic method using loops, we also introduced an optimization method using the Math.min() function. Problems like these are commonly asked in coding tests, so it’s good to practice them thoroughly.

Additionally, challenge yourself with various types of minimum value finding problems to build a deeper understanding of algorithms. In the next lesson, we will cover other algorithm problems, so please look forward to it. Thank you!